Plastic templet cover



May 7, 1957 H. c. TROUTMAN PLASTIC TEMPLET COVER I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jung 27, 1956 INVENTOR,

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United States Patent PLASTIC TEMPLET COVER Herman C. Troutman, Sarasota,Fla. Application June 27, 1956, Serial No. 594,221 3 Claims. c1. 2204.4

This invention relates to a plastic templet cover for a switch or outletbox.

An object of this invention is to provide a closure device which is usedtemporarily to cover electric outlet boxes in homes and buildings duringthe plastering of the walls thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic templet coverfor a box of the class specified, which can be easily removed bygrasping the locating pin and pulling on same for removing the saidcover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure which isused temporarily for closing a box while the plastering operation isbeing accomplished, and which structure is of a novel combinationwhereby the plastering trowel can pass thereover during the operation ofplastering or finishing the wall of a building.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprisescertain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts aswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a wall of abuilding, the outlet box, and the plastic templet cover, taken on line1--ll, Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, whileFigure 2 is an elevated front view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 1,showing how the plastering trowel easily passes over the locating pinduring the process of plastering the wall.

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of the plastic templet cover,while Figure 6 is a view in edge or side elevation thereof.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7, Figure 5, withthe sponge rubber inlay removed.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of the anchor pin and the foldablelocating pin, while Figure 9 is a similar view showing the parts atright angles to their position shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the sponge rubber inlay upon which ismounted the two pins of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged view in elevation of the boxengaging pin.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, I designates a switch or outletbox which is securely fastened in the walls of a building by means of asuitable arrangement at 2. The cover for the box 1 comprises a body 3that is provided with box-engaging pins 4 that are adapted to extendthrough apertures 5 that are formed in flange 6 on the edge of thebox 1. Each pin 4 is provided with an annular groove 7, which receivespart of the body 3, thereby securely anchoring the pins 4 in the body.The cover 8 is moved into position against the face of the box 1 untilthe pins 4 register with the apertures 5 whereupon they are adapted toenter said apertures causing the cover to be properly located inposition.

The body 3 of the cover 8 is provided with a socket 9 into which fitsthe sponge rubber inlay 10. This inlay is of cylindrical shape andthereby it has no corners for the plasterers tool or trowel 11, Fig. 4,to hit upon during the smoothing or plastering of the walls of thebuilding.

By reason of the folding locating pin 12 being provided with a loop 13,said loop is positioned in the loop 14 of the split anchor pin 15. Thesepins are primarily mounted upon the sponge rubber inlay 10 with theanchor pin 15 projecting beyond the inner face of the inlay 10 and withits outer ends bent over at substantially right angles as shown, wherebythe anchor pin 15 cannot easily be removed if undue strain is placedupon the locating pin 12. As shown in Figure 4 the locating pin may bepressed down upon or in the sponge rubber inlay 10 by action of thetrowel 11 passing thereover, Fig. 4.

After the plastering has been finished, the plastic templet cover cansimply be removed by grasping the pin 12 and pulling outwardly thereonwhereby the device as a whole can be easily removed from the box 1. Thesponge rubber inlay is used in order that there can be percentflexibility for the pin 12. In other words, pin 12 will fall down on therubber inlay and allow the plasterers tool to smoothly operatethereunder if desired, or slide readily thereover, as shown in Figure 4,and then by the springy action of the inlay 10 the pin 12 will assumeits normal position of extending outwardly to be readily grasped by theoperator.

The wall of the house or building may be composed of sheet rock or lath16, covered substantially on the front face with suitable plaster 1'7,and the permanent fastening means 2, Figure 3, is preferably fastened ina studding or beam 18.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention andillustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changesor alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I,therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations asshall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body, alocating pin normally projecting from said body, and said body providedwith yieldable means supporting said locating pin, whereby a trowel canpass over said locating pin and bend or press it against said yieldablemeans.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body adaptedto fit the front face of an electric outlet box, said body provided witha central socket, a cylindrical sponge rubber inlay seated in saidsocket, an anchor pin provided with a loop in said rubber inlay and withends outside of said body and lying snug against the same, a foldablelocating pin extending into said rubber inlay and provided on its innerend with a loop, said lastmentioned loop interlocked with thefirst-mentioned loop, and box-engaging pins on said body and extendinginwardly thereon.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body adaptedto fit the face of an electric outlet box, said body provided with alocating pin, and means carried by said body for pivotally and yieldablysupporting said locating pin thereon, said means including a yieldablesponge rubber pad and an anchor pin pivotally connected to said locatingpin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,204,006 Allen et al. June 11, 1940 2,620,080 Tomlin Dec. 2, 19522,666,546 Reilly Jan. 19, 1954

